Comments on: Lean Guy Drove a Prius For Two Years And… http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-prius-for-two-years-and/ Mark Graban's leanblog.org - Lean Healthcare, Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:01:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike T. http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5164 Mike T. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:52:01 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-a-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5164 Interesting comments about the radio. <br /><br />I drove a Camry for work while traveling last year. I hated that they didn't have a permanent "hot" plug to charge my cell phone.<br /><br />When I contacted Toyota, they claimed it was a safety issue to have permanent hot plugs. I responded with my dissatisfaction and challenged them to either think more of their customer in the future or identify past history with "hot plug-caused car fires".<br /><br />I never heard a response from that, but it has made me wonder about the rumors (I, too heard) about customer/quality sacrificed for cost/sales dollars... Interesting comments about the radio.

I drove a Camry for work while traveling last year. I hated that they didn't have a permanent "hot" plug to charge my cell phone.

When I contacted Toyota, they claimed it was a safety issue to have permanent hot plugs. I responded with my dissatisfaction and challenged them to either think more of their customer in the future or identify past history with "hot plug-caused car fires".

I never heard a response from that, but it has made me wonder about the rumors (I, too heard) about customer/quality sacrificed for cost/sales dollars…

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Mark Graban http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5159 Mark Graban Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:56:57 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-a-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5159 Dale - drive in Boston?? I haven't driven any car in over a month... didn't bring a car with us, we're walking and taking the T. Dale – drive in Boston?? I haven't driven any car in over a month… didn't bring a car with us, we're walking and taking the T.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Dale Hershfield http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5158 Dale Hershfield Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:48:06 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-a-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5158 We are a two Prius family. I drive a 2002 (1st gen) with 185,000 miles. My wife drives a 2007 (2nd gen) which now has about 50,000 miles on it. We love them. <br /><br />I consider the Prius a great VALUE. To wit: My wife and I encouraged her sister to buy a Prius. Her sister traded in a Lexus. Upon experiencing the Prius she noted wryly, "it's not a Lexus." No it is not, but it is a terrific value (and good for the environment if that is a decision factor for you). By the way, the sister now owns three Prii / Priuses.<br /><br />We had to replace the catalytic converter on the 2002--big expense--but otherwise only normal maintenance. The 2007 has been trouble free.<br /><br />Oh, and Mark, sounds like your driving style will be well suited to Boston. When my wife drives, she gets about 41 mpg. When I drive, I get 48 mpg. 2002 or 2007 doesn't matter--driving style does! We are a two Prius family. I drive a 2002 (1st gen) with 185,000 miles. My wife drives a 2007 (2nd gen) which now has about 50,000 miles on it. We love them.

I consider the Prius a great VALUE. To wit: My wife and I encouraged her sister to buy a Prius. Her sister traded in a Lexus. Upon experiencing the Prius she noted wryly, "it's not a Lexus." No it is not, but it is a terrific value (and good for the environment if that is a decision factor for you). By the way, the sister now owns three Prii / Priuses.

We had to replace the catalytic converter on the 2002–big expense–but otherwise only normal maintenance. The 2007 has been trouble free.

Oh, and Mark, sounds like your driving style will be well suited to Boston. When my wife drives, she gets about 41 mpg. When I drive, I get 48 mpg. 2002 or 2007 doesn't matter–driving style does!

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Andy Wagner http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5157 Andy Wagner Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:23:52 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-a-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5157 Mark,<br />My Matrix has the same hole in the driver's side floor mat.<br />It's not a Prius specific cost reduction.<br />I must confess, I considered this a result of my habits more than Toyota quality, but the car is only ~3 years old, and I tend to switch out for rubber floor mats in the winter, so it's not a good sign.<br />-Andy Mark,
My Matrix has the same hole in the driver's side floor mat.
It's not a Prius specific cost reduction.
I must confess, I considered this a result of my habits more than Toyota quality, but the car is only ~3 years old, and I tend to switch out for rubber floor mats in the winter, so it's not a good sign.
-Andy

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Thomas Eyde http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5156 Thomas Eyde Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:43:30 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-a-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5156 I have rubber mats, so holes are not a problem. But the upper backside of the rear seats have ugly marks after I laid them down and loaded long things.<br /><br />However, the worst thing is the user experience of the car stereo. There is a folder list for CD's or mp3 CD's, however that feature is locked and dimmed out while the car is moving.<br /><br />I don't know of Toyota or the general driver, but I usually want to operate the stereo while I am driving. I certainly don't want to stop everytime I'd like to browse the folder list.<br /><br />The ironic part is that all feedback I have got, via forums or Toyota, is that this feature is by design. It's designed that way for security reasons.<br /><br />How strange that I can browse / navigate my radio stations in exactly the same fashion while driving.<br /><br />And that the workarounds I have to apply to change songs take longer time and require more consentation and efforts.<br /><br />My next car will also be a hybrid, unless my needs have changed. I hope that stereo thing has been fixed by then. I have rubber mats, so holes are not a problem. But the upper backside of the rear seats have ugly marks after I laid them down and loaded long things.

However, the worst thing is the user experience of the car stereo. There is a folder list for CD's or mp3 CD's, however that feature is locked and dimmed out while the car is moving.

I don't know of Toyota or the general driver, but I usually want to operate the stereo while I am driving. I certainly don't want to stop everytime I'd like to browse the folder list.

The ironic part is that all feedback I have got, via forums or Toyota, is that this feature is by design. It's designed that way for security reasons.

How strange that I can browse / navigate my radio stations in exactly the same fashion while driving.

And that the workarounds I have to apply to change songs take longer time and require more consentation and efforts.

My next car will also be a hybrid, unless my needs have changed. I hope that stereo thing has been fixed by then.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Marc Rouppe van der Voort http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5155 Marc Rouppe van der Voort Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:29:28 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-a-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5155 I drive a Prius since three years (and bought it when it was two years old) with now 115.00km (about 70.000 miles) on the meter. I have the opposite experience: excellent quality, much less problems then my former car. <br /><br />For the few problems that were there, most of theme I wouldn't have noticed (part of the breaks needed to be replaced and a part of the cooling system), but the dealer noticed them before I did and fixed them under warranty.<br /><br />For the rest, I like the interior feel and touch. <br /><br />I do live in the Netherlands, but I was told that al Prius (Prii?) come from Japan, so it should be the same quality, right?<br /><br />Marc I drive a Prius since three years (and bought it when it was two years old) with now 115.00km (about 70.000 miles) on the meter. I have the opposite experience: excellent quality, much less problems then my former car.

For the few problems that were there, most of theme I wouldn't have noticed (part of the breaks needed to be replaced and a part of the cooling system), but the dealer noticed them before I did and fixed them under warranty.

For the rest, I like the interior feel and touch.

I do live in the Netherlands, but I was told that al Prius (Prii?) come from Japan, so it should be the same quality, right?

Marc

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]> By: Mike http://www.leanblog.org/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5154 Mike Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:56:59 +0000 http://leanblog.bigbigdesign.net/2009/07/lean-guy-drove-a-prius-for-two-years-and/#comment-5154 I think this is exactly the reason Toyota made serious changes in top management. The Toyota leadership have very publicly acknowledged the company has recently lost it's vision and pursued sales at the expense of quality. I think this is exactly the reason Toyota made serious changes in top management. The Toyota leadership have very publicly acknowledged the company has recently lost it's vision and pursued sales at the expense of quality.

Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

]]>